Lions help fund cancer treatment

By Fran Peppernell, publicity officer at Helensburgh Lions Club

Hi everyone, we hope you all had a good Christmas and we wish you all a Happy New Year.

One of our last activities in 2022 was conducting a BBQ outside Coles to raise funds to support one of our local residents Matt Donnelly, who requires bowel-cancer treatment. Matt’s oncologist has recommended that he use immunotherapy and recent studies have been positive. As an experimental treatment, Pembrolizumab, the immunotherapy drug, is not yet covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and needs to be funded upfront by Matt and his family.

From the BBQ and donations on the day of $500 the Lions club of Helensburgh will additionally add funds to make it $2500 total to help Matt with his treatment.

We are now in planning mode for the activities for 2023. As the only service club in Helensburgh, like other volunteer organisations we have seen a big reduction in the number of members. This adds more pressure on existing members to do more with less help.

So as our communities get back to the “new norm” we are really asking our community of Helensburgh to consider joining the Helensburgh Lions Club to make it viable and to conduct events that our community need. It is a rewarding and satisfying experience to be able to give back.

Please reach out to us on info@ helensburghlions,org.au or our Facebook page.

See you all next month.

Artists of the Illawarra

Painter Edith McNally introduces Gail Etheredge

Gail Etheredge was always interested in art, but didn’t explore the idea of painting until later in life.

She joined an art class in Thirroul and was instantly hooked. When she retired as a physiotherapist she immersed herself in the joy of painting. She paints in diverse styles and media using oils, acrylic and mixed media. Feelings drive her painting, which could be landscapes, both urban and nature, or just pure abstraction.

Gail’s landscapes are created with many layers and lots of mark making. She works mainly in her studio, taking inspiration from photographs taken around the local area, Australia and overseas.

Gail has explored different fields of painting, but her passion has moved toward abstraction. “I find it brings my inner voice to the canvas, using bold colours and working in many layers until an image emerges that speaks to me,” she says.

Gail recently moved to a larger house and she now finds that working “large” is her preferred practice. The move took her from wonderful Thirroul to stunning Coalcliff, where she now lives on a cliff overlooking the ocean so she has opened a studio/gallery that she has named “Cliffhouse Art”. She is open to the public by appointment on 0411 138 805, or when she has the flag out the front advising that she is open and painting. Her work can be seen on Facebook (Gail Etheredge Art) and Instagram (Gail Etheredge)

Gail has exhibited locally and further afield. She makes an annual pilgrimage to Ireland to visit family, do some workshops and allow a fresh perspective to wash over her.

Another wonderful local talent that beckons you all to grab a coffee and follow the “Grand Pacific Walk” right to her door.

To be featured, write to Edith at mcnallyedith@gmail.com

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